Moor Street Passenger Station

GWR Route: Banbury to Wolverhampton

GWR Route: North Warwickshire Line

Moor Street station was opened in July 1909 but the station known today, complete with the now demolished goods shed, was opened on 7th January 1914. Moor Street was opened as a measure to reduce the traffic through Snow Hill tunnel and consequently was designed to handle local commuter traffic originating from Leamington and the North Warwickshire line. In addition to this traffic, Moor Street had extensive goods facilities which again handled traffic that would have had to pass through Snow Hill tunnel to Hockley. Being a terminus station and built in a confined area, Moor Street possessed two traversers, one for each pair of tracks. These allowed the locomotives to move sideways instead of reversing back through crossovers. This space saving device was finally removed in 1967 when a crossover was installed. The Signal Box controlling the junction and part of the section to Bordesley was first opened in 1909 and had 118 levers. It closed on the 1st September 1969 as part of the upgrade to signalling in the area when Saltley Power Box becoming operational. The extensive goods facilities included an upper and lower area as the steep terrain allowed the goods shed to be built on two levels. Access to the lower area was via the lines from the south. Goods traffic finally ceased in 6th November 1972.

Much of the information on this and other webpages of Warwickshire Railways is derived from articles or books listed in our 'bibliography'.

Moor Street Station - The beginning

Ref: gwrms1104 NRM One of the many buildings demolished in the early part of the 20th century to make way for Moor Street station

Ref: gwrms1324 GWR Magazine Looking to Bordesley showing the Snow Hill to Paddington line on the left and the low level Goods Sheds

Ref: gwrms1714 Great Western Railway In July 1909 the Great Western Railway purchased from Birmingham Council the Old Public Offices for £15,250

Ref: gwrms1704 Great Western Railway Another May 1913 view across the new Shed A construction site to the passenger station and the top level goods shed

Ref: gwrms1704a Great Western Railway Close-up of Moor Street passenger terminus station, a steam rail-motor and trailer is seen waiting at the platform

Ref: gwrms1705 Great Western Railway Erection of the steel framework and roof trusses of the four hundred foot long top level shed nears completion

Ref: gwrms1713 Great Western Railway The high level shed steelwork frame was covered in cladding to provide weather protection for goods being transhiped

Ref: gwrms1713a Great Western Railway Close-up showing a train of Midland Railway open wagons delivering materials for the contractors

Ref: gwrms1706 Great Western Railway Moor Street station and the high level goods shed with a suburban passenger train leaving the bay platform No1

Ref: gwrms1706a Great Western Railway Close-up of the end of the island platform where a GWR water crane was available to replenish locomotives

Ref: gwrms1708 Great Western Railway The high level goods shed nears completion in December 1913 and was four hundred feet long with two bays

Ref: gwrms1697 GWR Magazine One of two traverser tables at the north end of the 700 foot long single island platform at Moor Street Station in 1910

Ref: gwrms1699 GWR Magazine One of the station's traverser tables undergoing a weight test with two GWR 2-4-2T 36XX class locomotives

Ref: gwrms1710 Great Western Railway View of Moor Street in May 1915 with the passenger terminus station dominated by the high level shed

Ref: gwrms1710a Great Western Railway A 1914 view of the passenger terminus at Moor Street with a local suburban train adjacent to the traverser table

Ref: gwrms1701 Great Western Railway On a wet June day in 1911 a Steam Railcar waits at the island platform at Moor Street Station

Ref: gwrms1711 Great Western Railway A view of the completed terminus building and the bay at the end of platform 2 with its traversing table in 1914

Ref: gwrms1732 GWR The GWR requesting powers for the compulsory closure of the footpath adjacent to the main line viaduct

External views of Moor Street

Ref: gwrms2727 B Geens View along Moor Street as one of Birmingham's Trams passes the front of Moor Street station

Ref: gwrms2726 B Geens The front facade of Moor Street passenger station showing the roof made up of five-vaulted glass canopies

Ref: gwrms251 LGRP Exterior of Moor Street station showing the main passenger entrance which led to the large spacious booking hall

Ref: gwrms2730 P Nicklin Another view of Moor Street being rebuilt as a Ring Road with the station and goods yard on the right

Ref: gwrms2759 RS Carpenter A long distance view of Moor Street passenger station and goods station during the building of ring road

Ref: gwrms2761 RS Carpenter View of the upper level goods facilities at Moor Street seen during demolition work of adjacent buildings

Moor Street Station - Operating the Traversers

Ref: gwrms1735 Great Western Magazine GWR 4-4-2T No 4600 being transferred to the loop line from the line serving island platform No 3

Ref: gwrms1223 HMRS Ex-GWR 2-6-2T 'Prairie' No 6152 stands on the traverser as it moves from platform 2 to platform 1 on the right

Ref: gwrms2744 Anon Close up of the warning signal on Moor Street's traverser which prevents a local accidentally derailing

Ref: gwrms2725 Great Western Railway Part of the traverser between Platforms 1 and 2 has been lifted and laid out on the track behind

Ref: gwrms1698 GWR Magazine Cross section through the traverser table, showing how one of the three rail roads could be moved sideways

Moor Street Station - Passenger operations

Ref: gwrms1206 GWR Magazine View of the concourse area leading to the platforms at Moor Street station showing the ground level goods yard

Ref: gwrms1206a GWR Magazine Close up showing one of the first GWR women ticket collectors appointed early in the First World War

Ref: gwrms1225 CR Clinker The station's concourse, booking office windows and general waiting room located adjacent to Moor Street

Ref: gwrms1709 Great Western Railway An official photograph of Moor Street Station concourse showing detail of the roof as seen in May 1915

Ref: gwrms1709a Great Western Railway Close up of the two booking office counter positions with the Station Master standing outside his office door

Ref: gwrms1709b Great Western Railway Close-up of the corner of the concourse where the General waiting room and the Ladies waiting room were situated

Ref: gwrms1224 Stations UK Ex-GWR 2-6-2T 'Large Prairie' No 5181 is seen standing at Platform 2 whilst the head of a local passenger service

Ref: gwrms254 Lens of Sutton View along one of Moor Street's platforms towards to the main building with the goods shed on the left

Ref: gwrms255 HC Casserley Looking along Moor Street's platforms towards the City centre with the GWR large water tower on the right

Ref: gwrms253 Lens of Sutton Looking towards Tyseley with the upper goods shed on the right and the main Snow Hill to London lines on the left

Ref: gwrms1731 P Chancellor Winter 1968, looking south from Moor Street station's island platform along the viaduct towards Bordesley

Ref: gwrms1728 R Pixton Close to the rear of Moor Street signal box, BR installed a replacement steel tubular signal post

Ref: gwrms255a HC Casserley Close up giving another view of the buffer stops at the end of Moor Street platforms and the terminus building

Ref: gwrms1096 Lens of Sutton Moor Street station with an unknown GWR 2-6-2T 'Prairie' tank running bunker first at the head of a local service

Ref: gwrms254a Lens of Sutton Close up view of the terminus end of the platform showing three miscellaneous vehicles standing next to the traverser

Ref: gwrms2731 Great Western Railway A group of morning commuters are seen going through Moor Street's ticket barrier on 30th April 1969

Ref: gwrms2654 Birmingham Post & Mail Birmingham school children evacuated from Platform 3 of Moor Street station on 1st and 2nd September 1939

Ref: gwrms2655 Birmingham Post & Mail Territorials from the Royal Warwickshire Regiment board GWR coaches assembled to form a troop train

Ref: gwrms2729 RG Nelson Looking along Platform 2 towards the traverser with Platform 1 and Moor Street warehouse on right

Ref: gwrms2757 D Chandler Looking north towards Moor Street station with the lifted track bed to Snow Hill tunnel on the right

Ref: gwrms2748 A Ross View from the Bordesley side of Moor Street Signal Box showing the deep windows at the rear of the signal box

Ref: gwrms2749 D Kendrick Signalman Cecil Kendrick, seen on the left, and two colleagues inside Moor Street Signal Box

Ref: gwrms1730 GWR Magazine Official photographs depicting the new four coach sets which appeared in the GWR Magazine of June 1911,

Ref: gwrms1787 GWR & JH Russell Composite view of the seven new four coach suburban sets introduced in to the Birmingham division in 1924

Ref: gwrms1733 Great Western Magazine Carman H Farley from Moor Street after wining the ‘Floyd Cup’ at the annual GWR Horse parade in Birmingham

Ref: gwrms2746 Birmingham Mail A Birmingham Mail article describing the appointment by the GWR of two lady ticket collectors in World War One

Ref: gwrms1801 GWR In 1927, the GWR changed the signal arms and coloured spectacle lens associated with Distant Signals

Ref: gwrms2747 Signal Record Society A schematic of the Signalling Diagram to Moor Street Signal Box which controlled the lines to the north and the south

Ref: gwrms3880 Birmingham Post & Mail The first wounded soldiers arrive in Birmingham on 1st September 1914 for treatment and convalescence

Trains seen at or near Moor Street

Ref: gwrms1101 R Darlaston Ex-GWR 2-6-2T No 6373 is seen at the head of the 3.10pm local passenger working to Henley in Arden

Ref: gwrms1100 RS Carpenter Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6014 'King Henry VII' on a down express service as it passes the junction of Moor Street station

Ref: gwrms1097 RS Carpenter Ex-GWR 2-6-0 No 6340 at the head of a parcels train as it passess from the down relief line to the down main line

Ref: gwrms1099 M Mensing Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 5996 'Mytton Hall' is seen emerging from Snow Hill tunnel on the 5.45pm Snow Hill to Worcester

Ref: gwrms1227 M Mensing Ex-GWR 0-6-2T No 6668 departs the traverser having brought the 6 25 pm local from Knowle & Dorridge

Ref: gwrbsh1316 Colour Rail Ex-GWR 4-6-0 King class No 6026 'King John' at the head of the up Cambrian Express as it leaves Snow Hill tunnel

Ref: gwrms1718 Anon A grimy GWR designed 2-6-2T large prairie No 4161 of the 51XX class on a three coach suburban passenger train

Ref: gwrms1222 BWL Brooksbank Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No 3625 on a class K freight as it passes Moor Street as it is about to enter the tunnel to Snow Hill

Ref: gwrms1719 M Mensing Three Great Western Railway designed locomotives running light past Moor Street Station on the down main to Snow Hill

Ref: gwrms1727 R Pixton Ex-Great Western Railway large prairie 2-6-2T 81xx class No. 8109 on the central railroad of the traversing table

Ref: gwrms1721 GWR Magazine A typical 1920’s scene with a GWR 0-4-2T class 517 tank locomotive with two auto-trailer coaches

Ref: gwrms2536 HMRS AET933-1 Ex-LMS 2-6-2T 3P No 40002 passes the approaches to Moor Street whilst on a down local service to Snow Hill

Ref: gwrms2614 C Walker BR 2-6-2T 5101 class No 4171 leaves Snow Hill tunnel on the up main line with Moor Street Station on the left

Ref: gwrms2543 C Walker Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6026 'King John' on the down Cambrian Coast Express about to enter Snow Hill tunnel

Ref: gwrms2751 JC Flemons Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 6013 'King Henry VIII' drifts slowly past Moor Street and Bordesley North's distant signal

Ref: gwrms2750 M Mensing Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 5946 'Marwell Hall' stands at Platform 3 with the Kingswear to Moor Street service

Ref: gwrms2738 CC Green Another view of ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 5946 'Marwell Hall' as it reverses back off Platform 3's traverser

Ref: gwrms2753 M Mensing Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 5065 'Newport Castle' arrives with the 1:11pm from Portsmouth Harbour on 2nd July 1960

Ref: gwrms2754 M Mensing Ex-GWR 0-6-0PT No 9798 is seen crossing slowly from the down relief line to the down main line

Ref: gwrms2760 KRM Ex-GWR 4-6-0 No 7029 'Clun Castle' is seen working an enthusiasts special, 'The Zulu' on 4th March 1967

Ref: gwrms3884 C Walker British Railways 4-6-0 class No 7021 ‘Haverfordwest Castle’ crosses from the down relief to the down main line

Ref: gwrms3885 M Mensing Caledonian Railway 4-2-2 'Single' No 123 on display at Moor Street Station on 13th April 1960

Diesel Dawn

Ref: gwrms2537 HMRS AES117 Ex GWR Diesel Railcar No7 on the traverser at the end of Platform 3 at Moor Street on 23rd September 1950

Ref: gwrms2752 AW Croughton Another view od ex-GWR Diesel Railcar No 7 standing at Platform 3 with a special working to the Forest of Dean

Ref: gwrms2755 V Michel View of a three-car, four wheel ACV Lightweight Diesel Unit standing at Moor Street's Platform 1 with a local service

Ref: gwrms1102 M Mensing Three-car Diesel Multiple Unit with W50077 leading on the local 1.35pm Moor Street to Stratford upon Avon service

Ref: gwrms1103 M Mensing DMU W55004 stands at Moor Street station is seen after it had been detached from the 1.30pm Leamington Spa

Ref: gwrms3223 EA Wood The three-car prototype ACV lightweight diesel railcar set stands at Moor Street on a local commuter service

Maps and schematic drawings of Moor Street Station

Ref: gwrms2722 Birmingham Library An October 1895 Fire Insurance map showing the Birmingham City end of the Bordesley Viaduct

Ref: gwrms1204 GWR Magazine Cross sectional view of the station showing the passenger station, the upper goods yard and the two lower sheds

Ref: gwrms1205 GWR Magazine Site plan showing the two lower sheds in relation to the main line to Snow Hill and Park Street and Allison Street

Ref: gwrms2724 Anon An undated schematic diagram showing the approach and the layout of Moor Street station

Ref: moor_st_map Map of Moor Street station during construction works in 1914 before the station and track layout was completed